Joe and Ruby
married on 21 June 1953 at the ages of 24 and
15, respectively, after promising Ruby's mother, Lucy Towns Clark, that Ruby
would continue her
high school education. They lived with
Joe's mother until they moved in 1956 to a one-bedroom mobile home in Middle
Georgia.
Karen was born on 28 March 1962. Joe
built, with his own hands, sweat, and tears, the home he lived in with Ruby for
30 years.